Henry Blayney, 2nd Baron Blayney facts for kids

Henry Blayney (who died on June 5, 1646, during the Battle of Benburb) was an important person in Irish history. He was the son of Edward Blayney, 1st Baron, and Ann Loftus. His mother's father was Adam Loftus, who was a very important church leader and a top legal official in Ireland.

Biography of Henry Blayney

Gregynog Hall, the Blayney family's old home

Henry's father, Edward Blayney, was a brave soldier and a smart politician. He came from a family in Wales. Edward was a member of the Irish Parliament and a trusted advisor to the government. He was also in charge of the area called Monaghan.

Edward Blayney was given a lot of land in Monaghan. He even started the town of Castleblayney. In 1621, he was given the special title of Baron Blayney. This meant he was a very important noble. Edward was quite wealthy, which helped his family a lot.

When Edward died in 1629, his son Henry became the 2nd Baron Blayney. Henry and his father had spent many years dealing with a difficult legal problem involving Henry's brother-in-law. Luckily, the Blayney family had enough influence to solve the problem fairly.

The Irish Rebellion of 1641

Henry Blayney was living in Ireland when the Irish Rebellion of 1641 began. This was a time of great trouble and fighting. On October 23, 1641, rebels attacked his home in Castleblayney. Henry quickly brought the news of this attack to Dublin, the capital city.

During the rebellion, Henry bravely defended a small fort in Monaghan with his soldiers. He fought until the very end. He lost his life leading his men in the Battle of Benburb on June 5, 1646. He was fighting against Felim O'Neill, a leader of the rebels. Henry was buried in Monaghan.

Losses During the Rebellion

In 1643, Lord Blayney officially stated how much he had lost because of the rebellion. He said he lost his castle in Castleblayney, along with many valuable items. These included:

• Goods and horses worth about £237.
• Silver plates and dishes worth £500.
• Linen (cloth) worth £500.
• Farm animals like cattle and sheep worth £925.
• Other household items in his two homes worth about £1,000.
• Money and debts owed to him.
• A large collection of books, his library, worth £500.

In total, Henry Blayney believed the rebels had caused about £13,873 worth of damage to his property and animals. He also lost about £2,250 each year from rent. These were huge amounts of money at the time.

Family Life

Henry Blayney was married to Jane, Lady Blayney. She was the daughter of Garret Moore, 1st Viscount Moore. Henry and Jane had a large family with 6 sons and 6 daughters.

Henry's Children

• Edward: He was the eldest son and became the 3rd Baron Blayney after his father. He never married.
• Charles: The second son, who died when he was young.
• Richard: The third son, who later became the 4th Baron Blayney. He married twice. With his second wife, Elizabeth, he had five sons and four daughters.
  • Henry: Richard's second son, who became the 5th Baron Blayney. He was a Captain in the army in Ireland.
  • William: Richard's fifth son, who was also a Captain in the army.
• Arthur: The fourth son, who never married.
• Garratt: The fifth son, who died in the Netherlands and never married.
• John: The sixth son, who died in the West Indies and never married.

Henry's Daughters

• Thomasin: The eldest daughter. She married twice and had many children.
• Penelope: The second daughter. She married Hugh Morgan and had two children who lived.
• Mary: The third daughter. She also married twice and had children with her second husband.
• Penelope: The fourth daughter, who died young.
• Sarah: The fifth daughter, who was not married at the time this record was made.
• Jane: The sixth daughter. She married Colonel John Georges and had a son and a daughter.

Jane, Lady Blayney, Henry's wife, passed away on October 22, 1686.

See also

• Baron Blayney